KIEV, Nov. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich on Sunday called for an emergency meeting of local congressmen to safeguard the constitutional system and break the election standoff.

    Yanukovich, who was announced to have won the Nov. 21 presidential runoff by the Central Elections Commission on Wednesday, made the appeal in his tour to the eastern town of Lugansk.

    According to the Ukraine National News Agency, about 3,500 deputies from councils at various levels, including 30 from the Supreme Council of Ukraine, will attend the meeting in Severodonetsk, another eastern town.

    The reports said Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov is also expected to attend the meeting, which will explore ways to handle the electionstandoff and "safeguard the constitutional system."

    Yanukovich cannot be inaugurated pending the hearing of an appeal to the Supreme Court filed by the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko. The court is to hear the case on Monday.

    Earlier, Yanukovich blamed the opposition-led demonstrations inKiev as an attempt at an "anti-constitutional coup."

    On Sunday morning, Yanukovich's supporters have left the Kiev railway station where they gathered for a counter-demonstration since Saturday.

    In the meantime, thousands of opposition supporters remained onthe Independence Square in downtown Kiev, pressing for installing Yushchenko as president.

    Yanukovich enjoys strong backing in the pro-Russian, heavily industrialized eastern half of the country, while the pro-West Yushchenko draws much support from Ukraine's west, a traditional stronghold of nationalism. Enditem